Customer Reviews

Superboy - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I first watched this series growing up in the 80's - I was eight years old when it premiered in syndication. To me, it is *the* definitive version of Superman/Superboy. Looking back on it, nearly 20 years later, it hasn't held up as well as I remember it - but, it still gets five stars for pure nostalgia reasons.

I thought John Newton was much better as Clark/Superman than Gerard Christopher (both actors appeared later on Melrose Place). Newton brought a realness to Clark - a regular guy who skateboarded and lifted weights with his buddies. However, Christopher took Chris Reeve's interpretation and turned it up to 11 - displaying Urkel-level nerdiness. Thankfully his Clark was toned down a bit after season 2.

Unfortunately, the first season suffers from a number of weak villains. Too often, Superboy found himself pitted against wealthy land developers, cops gone bad, polluters, and old guys in junkyards suffering from World War II shell shock. The villains got much better in later seasons. Still, there are a number of standouts in the first year - the introduction of Kryponite, Mr. Mxyzptlk, battling a succubus, time traveling to Hollywood's golden era, etc. I like how certain elements from the movie franchise were melded with John Byrne's reinvention (Clark's father being alive in this version, etc.) Incidentally, Martha is played by Salome Jens, who would go on to menace Deep Space 9 as leader of the changelings in the Dominion War. Another strength of the series was the impressive wire-work. Take offs and landings were typically done well (using many people who worked on the Superman movies) and were very ambitious - much better than the "whip pan" cape over camera effect used in Lois and Clark to "depict" take offs.

I really hope people aren't put off by some of the plots of the first season. For seasons 2-4, a number of comic book writers came on the show and infused a fun sense of adventure into the stories (not to mention Sherman Howard's maniacal portrayal of Lex Luthor - my personal favorite live action version yet!) In addition, later seasons would see the show adopting a proto-X-Files format where Clark and Lana would investigate paranormal matters. Noel Neill and Jack Larson (Lois and Jimmy from the original show) even make a cameo! Please support this series on DVD - otherwise we may never get the later seasons released!

Now if Warner would release the 13 episode 50th anniversary Superman cartoon produced by Ruby/Spears (and written by Marv Wolfman) for CBS, I would be a very happy camper.

I can't wait for SEASON 2 of SUPERBOY, but to get ready, I'm looking forward to the DVD release of SEASON 1 starring John Haymes Newton (Melrose Place & 'The Cable Guy' from Desperate Housewives). I just hope potential new fans (Smallville fans & Superman Returns fans) don't get discouraged when it comes time to purchase future seasons of SUPERBOY because they don't know that this show got better. SEASON 1 was probably the weakest of the series, with bad plots.

I can't believe Warner Brothers is releasing this DVD, since they filed a lien against the series in 1992 (the end of Season 4). WB blocked 'Superboy' from being rerun in North America, and from any further plans for occassional TV movies.
For the most part, 'Superboy The TV series' has been legally banned from future fans and viewers around the world which is why it has never been seen in syndication since. It cost the Salkinds a franchise, and the Superboy stars John Haymes Newton (Superboy/Clark 1), Gerard Christopher (Superboy/Clark 2) and Stacey Haiduk (Lana Lang) millions in royalties. Yet, despite this, the series is very much alive on the internet today and has spurned a loyal underground cult following.

Enjoy SEASON 1...John Haymes Newton did a good job as Superboy & Clark Kent.

It's super that Superboy season 1 is on DVD! This entire series was a blast of fun and it kept improving and increasing the fun level with every episode. The early episodes are fun, but when it was decided that comic book writers should be involved in the writing that move really made the series even cooler for fans of classic Superboy comics. The reviewer who stated that the comic writers didn't make the series even more like the comics is insane! Scripts by D.C. comic book writers made this show rock! I don't see how any fan of the original Superboy comics couldn't love this show. It's the real deal when it comes to capturing the spirit of the classic Superboy of the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, and early 80's. There's plenty of great comic book based fun like the chemical accident origin of Luthor, plus Metallo, plus the Yellow Peri and Gazook, plus Bizarro...! Plus Noel Neill and Jack Larson too! It was everything this Superboy fan could want from a Superboy TV series! The later episodes are especially good and when it came to capturing the classic Superboy spirit the Salkinds really did it right. Season one is a darn good start, but the later seasons were even more fun. Seasons 3 & 4 are my favorites. Please give us the other seasons on DVD too!

"Superboy" has been a long-neglected chapter of the 'Superman' saga, due, in large part, to Warner Bros., who refused, with a few exceptions, to allow the four-season series to be re-syndicated or marketed for 14 years (after winning a court ruling against Alexander and Ilya Salkind, long-time 'Superman' franchise producers). Fortunately, the WB has finally released the first season on DVD (in conjunction with the release of "Superman Returns"), and, despite some obvious 'growing pains' in plot and execution, the series certainly is a worthy addition to any fan's library!

Filmed at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando, the first season of the half-hour series offered hunky John Haymes Newton, 22 (cast because of a resemblance to Christopher Reeve), as the Shuster University Journalism student/Superhero, with wholesomely sexy Stacy Haiduk, 20 (Newton's offscreen girlfriend) as his friend (who could be more), Lana Lang. Rounding out the 'regulars' was mop-topped Jim Calvert as 'Jimmy Olsen'-like T.J. White (nephew of Perry), who provided some welcome lightness and humor to the proceedings.

The first episodes appear rushed and routine (the introduction of occasional guest star Scott Wells as snobbish, evil 'frat boy' Lex Luthor is poorly-acted and disappointing), and, sadly, many critics who panned the series never looked beyond those episodes, to the later, more polished stories, penned by veteran 'Superman' comic book writers. Those episodes (particularly the introduction of impish Mr. Mxyzptlk, portrayed by a perfectly-cast Michael J. Pollard), show the promise of the VERY good series "Superboy" would become, in time.

"Superboy" would foreshadow "Smallville", highlighting the bonds of young Clark to his adopted parents (portrayed by the excellent Stuart Whitman and Salome Jens), his small-town roots and sense of integrity, and the frustration of an attraction to Lana that he cannot consummate, because of the secrets he keeps. Newton, while lacking the smoldering sex appeal of Tom Welling, is very likable, and is far closer in age and personality to the character he portrays than either Welling, or Gerard Christopher (who would assume the role in Season Two of "Superboy").

Sadly, a combination of publicized scrapes with the local police (he seemed to drive at super-speed!), and salary demands would cost Newton the role after the first season, and most fans prefer Christopher's 'take' on the character, but this, to me, makes this collection even more 'special'. Comparing actor portrayals is a lot of the fun of the various incarnations of 'Krypton's Last Son', and Newton is certainly worth watching...

Give this collection a chance, and I think you will like it, on its own merits, and as the introduction of a long-absent chapter in the 'Superman' story!

I can't believe Superboy is finally coming to DVD. I watched the episodes back when they were on television. I loved the show, it reminded me of my teenage years with Wonder Woman and The Flash. I'm definently getting this when it comes out. I grew up watching these shows and so will my kids.

I am very happy that this wonderful series which lasted four years in syndication is finally making its DVD debut. The only thing that concerns me is that people may watch this first season and be put off by poor acting and not-so-exciting scripts and villains. Please believe me when I say that this series did indeed keep getting better every season. This season John Haymes Newton played the part of Superboy and Scott Wells plays, in my opinion, a very poor Lex Luthor.
Next season Gerard Christopher takes over as Superboy. Sherman Howard takes over wonderfully as the new Lex Luthor. Mr. Howard is a marvelous Lex Luthor. We also see comic book villains such as Bizarro and Metallo. Gone is TJ White and in his place is Andy McAlister who also leaves the show after the second season when Clark and Lana work in the Bureau of Extranormal Matters. Stacy Haiduk is one of the only characters who remain the same.
The first year's special effects were not so great, but beginning in the second season many of the flying sequences rival the Superman movies. The scripts are MUCH better, the stories are much more exciting. And the best part is that this is one of the few shows where the show does get better and better each season. By the time you get to the third season you'll hardly believe it's the same show. The producers seemed to want to distance themselves from the first season because they renamed the show "The Adventures of Superboy". With just about a complete cast change by the third season, it does not seem to be the same show at all.
I urge everyone who is interested in this series to purchase it on DVD so that the remaining seasons will be released. You will not be disappointed. Give this series a chance to really shine.

When this series came out in the late 80's I was only about 15 years old. At the time the very 80's look didnt bother me as it was the world we lived in, however this first series didnt age well. For a start John Haymes Newton was and in my opinion is the better of the two Superboy's who took the role on. He was replaced from the second season by Gerard Christopher who's acting ability left me cold. John Haymes Newton had a more natural element about him which helped support a very shakey beginning. The first episode isnt great. There is no lead in as to how he got there, Superboy has been on the scene for some time and we join the story as if we happened upon it! The acting from some of the supports is terrible, namely Lex Luthor who has this very strange accent and very wooden acting that from the word go you know we are in trouble. Considering when Superboy and Lex meet while Lex is attempting to steel an "mystic" jewel he greets Superboy with the line "Ah you must be the one they call Superboy"! His attempt at being "a man of the world" comes off as close to comedic. John Haymes Newton is a fine actor and has a very physical dominance to the role. He didnt make Clark Kent the nervous mishap character as he is normally known as and this I think helps make Superboy that more a real character. It is clear that this first episode was done on a shoe string budget but as the season moves on the stories and the cast improve a great deal, (which they seem to peddle back from with some bad casting in future seasons). If you are a fan of the entire Superman/Superboy theme you will like this. It has its own originality to it but it has its hands tied by the producers who didnt have much imagination when to came to seeing where the character and story were going, unlike Smallville today which could have allowed Superboy to become Superman.

Its a big shame they changed Haymes Newton regardless of the "difference" in opinion. Gerard Christopher did have the added help of more money but his acting is just down right boring. Thank God they brought a new Lex into the show who stole every scene he was in with Christopher.

Over all first episode isnt great, but as the season goes on it improves and the casting is excellant, even having an Oscar Winner performing as the professor from the University. 3 out of 5 stars for the Season the two stars are lost due to lack of production and terrible acting from some of the supporting cast. John Haymes Newton not only saves the day, I think he saved the show!

I'm so excited that Superboy is finally coming out on dvd! I initially became interested in this tv series when I found out that Salkind, who brought us the wonderful Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve, was involved. This is a must-have not only for fans of the movies but also the comic books. The series stays true to the Superboy comics and brings back some of the favorite villains. I also love the Noel Neill and Jack Larson (Lois and Jimmy) cameos! Like most gen-Xers, my first exposure to Superman was in the original tv series with George Reeves playing Superman so it was wonderful seeing them make an appearance again. With all the Superman craze leading into the Superman Returns movie in June, this is a great way to add to your Superman dvd library. I'm thinking it would make a great gift for dad for Father's Day too.

I gave up watching television in 1963, after having spent the majority of my teen years glued to the tube. Thus it came as a complete surprise to me that there even was a SUPERBOY series, let alone four seasons of it. I discovered it while looking for the third season of LOIS & CLARK and grabbed it immediately. I gather there are political and/or business reasons why the show was never shown beyond the initial airing. Whatever, I'm finding it a treat to watch the show now. (Actually it's a lot more fun than LOIS & CLARK, since that series degenerated into a soap opera by the third season. Why the idiots-that-be decided Clark and Lois should become engaged, let alone that she should discover his secret identity, I'll never know. They didn't consult me on this.)

The acting in SUPERBOY mostly is good, if occasionally wooden. The FX and productions values are fine (although I have caught the shadow of a crane when Superboy landed in a field, and in another shot, a microphone is clearly visible for several seconds). The stories and characters are fun.

What I find puzzling about the Warner Brothers release of the first season is that there is no pilot episode: nothing to explain why Lana Lang, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor have all migrated from Smallville and have converged on a university in Florida! And how did Perry White's son, TJ, from Metropolis end up there, too, and as Clark's roommate?

Bigger question: in the episode where Pa Kent is injured in a tractor accident and is in the hospital, why does Clark take an Eastern Airlines flight and a bus to get to Smallville when he could have just ditched the Clark Kent disguise and flown? Or hadn't he earned his interstate flying license at that point?

The shows in the DVD set are theoretically in the order in which they aired, but they're often out of sequence chronologically. For example, in about the fifth episode, after Superboy has rescued Lana and TJ several times, suddenly no one has ever seen him before. And TJ's hairstyle goes back and forth a few times, as do the opening credits.

All this carping aside, this is a fun series. The full four seasons are available in a set elsewhere, but not through Amazon. There are no bonus features, however. But then considering the inane bantering between Ilya Salkind and John Newton in the two commentaries in Warner Brothers' first season set, that's no big loss.

I grew up on this show and the first season with John Haymes Newton was definitely my favorite. Like so many other fans, I have signed various petitions to get Superboy out on DVD and I am so glad that we will finally get to see this great show again. More loyal to the comics than Lois & Clark or Smallville, Superboy is a must see for all who enjoy Superman in his many incarnations. John Haymes Newton really looks the part and had a coolness that some other the other actors who have played the Man of Steel have lacked. This show has a huge cult following and for good reason! Anyone who has only seen the later seasons with Gerard Christopher should definitely pick this up as well- you won't be disappointed!